Interactive dvd applications

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for playing an interactive application using a DVD player ( 24 ) that generates images on a TV ( 22 ) responsive to addressed image data on a DVD ( 50 ), the apparatus comprising: a DVD ( 50 ) having application images encoded at addressed locations on the DVD; an interface unit ( 26 ) comprising an IR transmitter ( 34 ), at least one user input device and a processor; a readable memory device (RMD) ( 52 ), separate from the DVD ( 50 ), encoded with at least one algorithm for determining a DVD image address responsive to activation of the at least one input device by a user; wherein the processor determines an image address responsive to the at least one algorithm and activation of the at least one input device and controls the IR transmitter ( 34 ) to transmit an IR signal encoding the address to the DVD player.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to operating an interactive applicationusing a DVD player and a TV.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Interactive applications, such as games and various educationalapplications that elicit and process user input signals are generallyoperated on a computer or dedicated game player. These devices usuallycomprise a suitable input device such as a CD player for inputting gamedata and algorithms from a CD, a display screen and speakers and atleast one user input device such as a keyboard and/or joystick. Aprocessor comprised in the computer or game player generates images onthe screen and/or audio signals to stimulate and elicit user activationof the at least one input device and/or to respond to a user inputsignal from the input device. A given image or sequence of images and/oraudio signals is generated responsive to a preceding user input signalor signal and game algorithms.

While most households, and even most relatively poor households, in thedeveloped countries are equipped with a TV and DVD player, computers andgame players are less frequently owned than TVs and DVDs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of some embodiments of the present invention relates toproviding a method and apparatus, hereinafter an interaction interfaceunit (IU), that enables a person to operate, hereinafter also “to play”,an interactive application using a TV and DVD player.

An aspect of some embodiments of the present invention relates toproviding an IU that does not require modifying a DVD or a TV so thatthe IU can be used with the DVD and TV to play an interactiveapplication.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, the IUcontrols the DVD player for the purpose of operating an interactiveapplication by transmitting control signals to the DVD player via an IRchannel that is normally used to control the DVD player.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention, aninteractive application comprises image and associated audio data,hereinafter collectively “image data” stored on an optionally multimediaDVD. Data and algorithms, hereinafter “operating data”, used foroperating the interactive application are stored on a readable memorydevice (RMD) other than the DVD on which the image and/or audio data isstored. The readable memory device may be any of various devices knownin the art such as a CD, DVD, memory stick or smart card. Optionally theRMD is also a writable memory.

An IU in accordance with an embodiment of the invention comprises aprocessor, apparatus for reading an RMD, at least one user input devicesuch as a keyboard and/or joystick and a suitable IR light source fortransmitting IR signals to a DVD. To play an interactive applicationusing the IU, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,a user inserts the application's DVD into a DVD player connected to a TVand the application's RMD into the RMD reader of the IU. The useroperates the at least one input device to instruct the IU to start theinteractive application. Thereafter, during play of the application, theIU processor determines which image or sequence of images and associatedaudio signals should be presented on the TV responsive to user inputsignals from the at least one input device and/or operating data on theRMD. The IU then transmits appropriate conventional DVD player IRcontrol signals to the DVD player to control the player to present therequired images on the TV.

In general, communication between a DVD player controller and anassociated DVD player is one way communication from the controller tothe player. A DVD player is not in general equipped to transmit signalsto its controller. As a result, an IU, in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention, does not receive feedback signals responsiveto control signals that it transmits to a DVD player that it controlsthat are suitable for monitoring performance of the DVD player.

However, in some embodiments of the invention, images displayed on a TVby a DVD player controlled by an IU are encoded with an optical code,such as a bar-code, that identifies the images and the IU comprises anoptical reader, e.g. a bar-code reader, for reading the optical code.The optical code functions as a feedback signal responsive to which theoptical reader generates signals that it transmits to the IU processor.To monitor DVD player performance, the processor determines from thesignals it receives from the optical reader whether the displayed imagesare the correct images.

In some embodiments of the invention, an audio portion of the displayedimages is encoded with an acoustic code, such as an ultrasound acousticcode. The IU comprises an acoustic sensor that senses the acoustic codeand generates signals responsive thereto which it transmits to theprocessor. The processor uses the received signals to determine if theDVD player is responding properly to the IU's IR control signals.

There is therefore provided, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention, apparatus for playing an interactive applicationusing a DVD player that generates images on a TV responsive to addressedimage data on a DVD, the apparatus comprising: a DVD having applicationimages encoded at addressed locations on the DVD; an interface unitcomprising an IR transmitter, at least one user input device and aprocessor; a readable memory device (RMD), separate from the DVD,encoded with at least one algorithm for determining a DVD image addressresponsive to activation of the at least one input device by a user;wherein the processor determines an image address responsive to the atleast one algorithm and activation of the at least one input device andcontrols the IR transmitter to transmit an IR signal encoding theaddress to the DVD player.

Optionally, the interface unit comprises a memory. Optionally, theinterface unit stores information responsive to user activation of theat least one input device in the memory. Optionally, the interface unittransmits an address responsive to the stored user activationinformation.

In some embodiments of the invention the interface unit comprises aclock.

Optionally, the interface unit stores temporal information responsive touser activation of the at least one input device in the memory.Optionally, the interface unit transmits an address responsive to thestored temporal information.

In some embodiments of the invention the processor determines content ofan image displayed on the TV responsive to an elapsed time on the clock.Optionally, the interface unit transmits an address responsive to thedetermined content.

In some embodiments of the invention, the processor determines where onthe TV screen an element in an image displayed on the screen is locatedresponsive to elapsed time on the clock. Optionally, the interface unittransmits an address responsive to the location of the element.

In some embodiments of the present invention, images generated on the TVby the DVD comprise optical codes that identify the images. Optionally,the interface unit comprises an optical code reader that transmitssignals responsive to the sensed codes to the processor, which processesthe signals to determine which image is displayed on the TV.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the DVD is encoded withaudio data associated with images encoded on the DVD and when the DVDgenerates an image on the TV associated with audio data, the DVDcontrols the TV to generate audio signals responsive to the associatedaudio data. Optionally, the audio signals comprise an audio codeidentifying the generated image. Optionally, the interface unitcomprises an acoustic sensor that transmits signals responsive to theaudio code to the processor, which processes the signals to determinewhich image is displayed on the TV.

In some embodiments of the present invention, if a determined image doesnot correspond to an image address transmitted by the interface unit,the interface unit retransmits the address. Optionally, the interfaceunit comprises a display screen. Optionally, if an image displayed onthe TV does not correspond to an image address transmitted by theinterface unit, the interface unit generates a signal indicating thatthere is a malfunction that requires user intervention is required.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the at least one inputdevice comprises a keyboard. In some embodiments of the presentinvention, the at least one input device comprises a joystick. In someembodiments of the present invention, the RMD comprises a DVD. In someembodiments of the present invention, the RMD comprises a CD. In someembodiments of the present invention, the RMD comprises a memory stick.In some embodiments of the present invention, the RMD comprises a smartcard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Non-limiting examples of embodiments of the present invention aredescribed below with reference to figures attached hereto, which arelisted following this paragraph. In the figures, identical structures,elements or parts that appear in more than one figure are generallylabeled with a same numeral in all the figures in which they appear.Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are chosenfor convenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarilyshown to scale.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a user preparing to play an interactiveeducational application using a TV, a DVD and an IU, in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A-2E schematically show the user shown in FIG. 1 playing theinteractive application, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 3 schematically shows the user shown in the previous figuresplaying an interactive application, which is a game, in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 schematically shows a user 20 preparing to play an interactiveapplication using a TV 22, a DVD player 24 and an interaction interfaceunit, i.e. an IU 26, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

IU 26 comprises at least one user input device, optionally a keyboard 30and a joystick 32, an IR transmitter 34 for transmitting IR signals toDVD player 24, a processor and associated memory (not shown) andoptionally a display screen 36. Optionally, IU 26 comprises a bar-codereader 38. Data and algorithms, i.e. operating data, that define a giveninteractive application and are required by the processor comprised inIU 26 to run the application are optionally encoded in a suitablereadable memory device, i.e. RMD. Optionally, the RMD is writable. IU 26is equipped with apparatus for receiving and reading the RMD. An RMD maybe any suitable readable memory device known in the art, such as forexample a DVD, CD, memory stick or smart card. By way of example, IU 26is assumed to be equipped to receive RMDs that are CDs and comprises aCD port 40 and reader 42.

User 20 is shown inserting a DVD 50 into DVD player 24 and a CD 52 intoIU 26. DVD 50 is encoded with data encoding all images and associatedaudio tracks that may be required to be displayed and sounded duringoperation of the interactive application. During operation of theinteractive application, the processor in IU 26 determines which imagesor series of images encoded in DVD 50 should be displayed on TV 22responsive to operating data encoded in CD 52 and/or how user 20operates keyboard 30 and joystick 32.

By way of example, the application encoded in CD 52 and DVD 50 isassumed to be an educational application that teaches arithmetic. FIGS.2A-2C illustrate user 20 taking an arithmetic lesson from theapplication.

After the user starts the application, optionally by transmittingsuitable instructions to IU 26 via keyboard 30, IU 26 displays a messageoptionally on screen 36 prompting user 20 to log in his name. ThereafterIU transmits IR signals, indicated in FIG. 2A by wavy arrows 61 to DVDplayer 26 that are encoded with the address or addresses of anintroductory sequence of images encoded on DVD 50 (FIG. 1) and a commandto display the image sequence. Upon receipt of the IR signals, DVDplayer 24 accesses the encoded addresses and displays the introductoryimages on TV 22. The introductory images conclude with an image 62 shownin FIG. 2A that prompts the user to indicate a level of difficulty forthe desired arithmetic lesson.

Optionally, image 62 comprises a bar code 63 peculiar to image 62 thatidentifies the image. Bar-code reader 38 senses bar code 63 andgenerates a signal responsive thereto that it transmits to the IUprocessor. The processor processes the received signal to determinewhether image displayed on TV 22 is the correct concluding image of theintroductory sequence. If bar code 63 indicates that the image is notthe correct image, DVD player 24 has malfunctioned and IU 26 optionallyattempts to correct the DVD player error by transmitting additional IRsignals that instruct the DVD to attempt again to display theintroductory images. If after transmitting the additional IR signals barcode reader 38 does not sense the correct bar code, the processor in IU26 generates a message on display screen 36 indicating that an error,which requires user intervention, has occurred.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a sound track associatedwith each image from DVD 50 displayed on the screen of TV 22 generatesan acoustic signal, such as an ultrasound signal, peculiar to thedisplayed image that identifies the image. IU 26 comprises an acousticsensor, (not shown) which senses the acoustic signal and processes thesensed acoustic signal to monitor operation of DVD player 24.

However, in the example shown in FIG. 2A the correct concluding image,image 62, is in fact shown and IU 26 continues running the applicationand waits for user 20 to choose a level of difficulty. User 20 useskeyboard 30 to indicate that he would like to take the “easy lesson”.

In response to the choice indicated by user 20, the processor in IU 26transmits an IR signal 65 shown in FIG. 2B to DVD player 24 that encodesan address of an image on DVD 50 that comprises an appropriately easyarithmetic problem. Responsive to IR signal 65, DVD player 24 accessesthe encoded address on DVD 50 and displays the image, indicated as image66 in FIG. 2B, on TV 22. Image 66 comprises an easy arithmetic problemin addition for user 20 to solve. User 20 uses keyboard 30 to key in anumber, which he believes to be a correct answer to the problem shown inimage 66.

Unfortunately, user 20 is not very good at arithmetic and keys in anincorrect solution. Upon receiving the keyboard signals indicating theincorrect solution, in FIG. 2C the processor in IU 26 controls IRtransmitter 34 to transmit IR signals 67 to DVD player 24 that encode anaddress of an image of a sad face and an associated sound track encodedon DVD. DVD player 24 accesses the image address and controls TV 22 todisplay the image, indicated as an image 68 and to play the associatedsound track “TRY AGAIN” indicated in a bubble 69. Following display ofthe try again image 68, IU 26 controls DVD player 24 to again presentimage 66 (FIG. 2B) and awaits the response of user 20.

User 20 repeatedly tries, but fails to solve the problem presented byimage 66 and is repeatedly treated to displays of sad face image 68 andexhortations to try again. The processor in IU 26 keeps track of therepeated trials and failings of user 20 and in accordance with analgorithm on CD 52 determines, after a predetermined number of failedattempts, to provide user 20 with a hint. In FIG. 2D, IU 26 transmits IRsignals 71 to DVD player 24, which instruct the DVD player to access anaddress that encodes a “Hint Image” 72 and display the image on TV 22.The hint, which indicates to the user that the answer is between 8 and12, is sufficient to enable user 20 to come up with the correct solutionand key it in on keyboard 30. Upon receiving the correct answer, IU 26controls DVD player 24 to access and display a happy face image 73 on TV22.

User 20 is blessed with ample amounts of ambition and endurance andspends an extended period of time solving easy problems in addition,which IU 26 controls DVD player 24 to display on TV 22. During thearithmetic teaching session, the processor in IU 26 determines andstores in the IU memory how many, if any, incorrect solutions areproffered by user 20 for each problem and how long it takes the user todetermine the correct solution to the problem. The processor analyzesthe accumulated performance statistics for user 20 and determines thathis error rate and time to solution of a problem have decreasedsubstantially.

When an exhausted user 20 finally decides to quit the lesson, IU 26controls DVD player to display a “Congratulations You Have Improved”image on TV 20 and a “Suggestion Image” suggesting that the next lessonbe carried out at a more difficult level. The processor stores theperformance statistics of user 20 from the lesson and his “log in name”in the associated memory. Optionally, the processor stores theperformance statistics and log in name on RMD, i.e. CD 52 (FIG. 1).Optionally, the next time user 20 logs in to take an arithmetic lesson,the processor accesses the stored performance statistics associated withthe user's log in name and responsive thereto controls DVD player 24 todisplay on TV 22 a “You Have Advanced to a Next Level” image, which isencoded in DVD 50. The “Next Level” image is optionally followed by a“Prompt Image” suggesting that he should try the “Hard” problems.

The above illustrated arithmetic lesson is a simplified example of aninteractive experience using an IU and more complicated, intricateand/or “dynamic” interactive applications are possible, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. For example, after hisstrenuous mental workout taking arithmetic lessons, user 20 might decidehe needs to relax playing a game of “Space Race” and loads anappropriate DVD into DVD player 24 and CD onto his IU 26.

Upon starting the game, IU 26 controls DVD player 24 to show a movie ofan interstellar environment in which, for example asteroids, comets,magnetic storms and other “space hazards” stream across the screen of TV22, optionally from top to bottom. FIG. 3 schematically shows a“snapshot” of Space Race being played by user 20 in which a scene 100comprising asteroids 102 and an oncoming comet 104 is shown on TV 22.

A space racer 106 is shown against the background of the interstellarenvironment in scene 100. User 20 controls speed of space racer 106relative to the flow of space hazards (e.g. asteroids 102 and comet 104)streaming across the screen of TV 22 by moving joystick 32 forwards orbackwards. Lateral position of the space ship on the screen iscontrolled by moving joystick 32 to the left or to the right.

Images, “position images”, of space racer 106 at different locations onthe screen of TV 22 are encoded in the overlay layer of the Space RaceDVD loaded in DVD player 24. Different positions of space racer 106 onthe screen of TV 22 are provided by displaying, responsive toappropriate IR command signals 107 from IU 26, different ones of theposition images of the space racer. Motion of space racer 106 relativeto the apparent motion of the space racer generated by the streaming ofspace hazards in the interstellar environment screened on TV 22 isprovided by displaying, responsive to appropriate IR signals 107, asequence of position images of the space ship at different locations onthe screen.

The object of the Space Racer game is to travel a longest distance in ashortest time through the interstellar environment displayed on TV 22while avoiding being demolished by collision with a space hazard. At anytime during play, the processor in IU 26 knows the positions of allspace hazards on the screen of TV 22 from operational data on the CD inthe IU and elapsed time from beginning of play. The processor determinesfrom the displayed position of space racer 106 and the locations of thespace hazards if and when the space racer collides with a given spacehazard. Upon occurrence of a collision, the processor stores the elapsedtime to collision and a travel distance for the space racer in thememory and processes the stored data to provide a performance score foruser 20. Optionally, if space racer 106 survives a predetermined timeperiod and/or distance without a collision user 20 is determined to be aSpace Race winner.

In the description and claims of the present application, each of theverbs, “comprise” “include” and “have”, and conjugates thereof, are usedto indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily acomplete listing of members, components, elements or parts of thesubject or subjects of the verb.

The present invention has been described using detailed descriptions ofembodiments thereof that are provided by way of example and are notintended to limit the scope of the invention. The described embodimentscomprise different features, not all of which are required in allembodiments of the invention. Some embodiments of the present inventionutilize only some of the features or possible combinations of thefeatures. Variations of embodiments of the present invention that aredescribed and embodiments of the present invention comprising differentcombinations of features noted in the described embodiments will occurto persons of the art. The scope of the invention is limited only by thefollowing claims.

1. Apparatus for playing an interactive application using a DVD playerthat generates images on a TV responsive to addressed image data on aDVD, the apparatus comprising: a DVD having application images encodedat addressed locations on the DVD; an interface unit comprising an IRtransmitter, at least one user input device and a processor; a readablememory device (RMD), separate from the DVD, encoded with at least onealgorithm for determining a DVD image address responsive to activationof the at least one input device by a user; wherein the processordetermines an image address responsive to the at least one algorithm andactivation of the at least one input device and controls the IRtransmitter to transmit an IR signal encoding the address to the DVDplayer.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the interface unitcomprises a memory.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein theinterface unit stores information responsive to user activation of theat least one input device in the memory.
 4. Apparatus according to claim3 wherein the interface unit transmits an address responsive to thestored user activation information
 5. Apparatus according to claim 2wherein the interface unit comprises a clock.
 6. Apparatus according toclaim 5 wherein the interface unit stores temporal informationresponsive to user activation of the at least one input device in thememory.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the interface unittransmits an address responsive to the stored temporal information. 8.Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the processor determines contentof an image displayed on the TV responsive to an elapsed time on theclock.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the interface unittransmits an address responsive to the determined content.
 10. Apparatusaccording to claim 5 wherein the processor determines where on the TVscreen an element in an image on the screen is located responsive toelapsed time on the clock.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 10 whereinthe interface unit transmits an address responsive to the location ofthe element.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein images generatedon the TV by the DVD comprise optical codes that identify the images.13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the interface unit comprisesan optical code reader that transmits signals responsive to the sensedcodes to the processor, which processes the signals to determine whichimage is displayed on the TV.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 1 whereinthe DVD is encoded with audio data associated with images encoded on theDVD and when the DVD generates an image on the TV associated with audiodata, the DVD controls the TV to generate audio signals responsive tothe associated audio data.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 14 whereinthe audio signals comprise an audio code identifying the generatedimage.
 16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the interface unitcomprises an acoustic sensor that transmits signals responsive to theaudio code to the processor, which processes the signals to determinewhich image is displayed on the TV.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 13wherein if a determined image does not correspond to an image addresstransmitted by the interface unit, the interface unit retransmits theaddress.
 18. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the interface unitcomprises a display screen.
 19. Apparatus according to claim 18 whereinif an image displayed on the TV does not correspond to an image addresstransmitted by the interface unit, the interface unit generates a signalindicating that there is a malfunction that requires user interventionis required.
 20. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least oneinput device comprises a keyboard.
 21. Apparatus according to claim 1wherein the at least one input device comprises a joystick. 22.Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the RMD comprises a DVD. 23.Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the RMD comprises a CD. 24.Apparatus according to clam 1 wherein the RMD comprises a memory stick.25. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the RMD comprises a smartcard.